Chinese researchers investigated the effects of Moringa oleifera stem extract (MOSE) on cataract formation induced by oxidative stress in cultured mouse lenses. The results of their study were published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

M. oleifera, also known as horseradish tree, drumstick tree or simply moringa, has strong antioxidant properties.

To find out if it can prevent cataract formation, the researchers pre-treated mouse lenses cultured in vitro with 0.5 and 1 mg/mL MOSE for 24 hours.

After 48 hours, the researchers measured the lens opacification, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, reduced glutathione (GSH) content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), in the lenses.

They also measured the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARa), a nuclear receptor that helps protect against vision-threatening eye diseases.